Nightlife & Music

Best Places To Celebrate Cinco de Mayo In Sacramento

The stars are aligned this year for Sacramento’s best Cinco de Mayo celebrations. It’s been five long years since Cinco de Mayo fell on a weekend, so area nightclubs, restaurants, pubs and entertainment venues are gearing up for a busy holiday. From cultural events and family celebrations to adults-only pub crawls, Sacramento’s Cinco de Mayo parties have something for everyone.

Date: May 4 at 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Price: $7 in advance; $10 at the door

Vallejo’s Restaurant gets a jump start on Cinco de Mayo, with their long-standing block party on Friday, May 4. You’re invited to the largest block party in the city, between P & O Street, on 11th. Vallejo’s is fired up and ready to serve an expected 1,500 guests. For more than 10 years, Vallejo’s Restaurant has hosted this 21 and over evening fiesta, in Sacramento. Enjoy live music from the Mike Torres Band, a contemporary Stockton-based Latino show band with a strong, soulful brass line and pleasing vocals. Belly-up to the beer garden and tip some premium tequila at the popular tequila table. Expect incredible food, chips and salsa and comida corrida. Other offerings, selected from the restaurant’s menu, are chili verde, chicken mole, and carnitas, Vallejo’s house specialty.

Accomplished soloist, singer and classical guitar phenom Mexican born Zaira Meneses performs twice in as many days in Folsom this May. The internationally acclaimed star opens in Folsom, on May 5th. Zaira reaches live audiences on three continents as a solo artist and founding member of Orquesta de Guitarras of Xalapa. Her strumming has been described as “arresting.” Her mastery of classical guitar touches audience members of all ages, provoking them to feel each slide, chord and note. Bring your family to this one-of-a-kind Cinco de Mayo event. Zaira performs two shows on Stage 3 at the Scott-Skillman Recital Hall.

Are you looking for a contemporary, fun and authentic way to kick off your Cinco celebration? Head to On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, in Natomas. There are fajitas, and then there are On The Border fajitas. The gold standard for fajitas in Sacramento, On The Border’s Ultimate Fajita sizzles. Cinco de Mayo is a holiday custom-made for On The Border. Relax on the patio at happy hour and feast on half-priced appetizers and $4 house margaritas. Drink your favorite Mexican import, draft beer, and mixed drink on-the-cheap at On The Border’s Cinco de Mayo happy hour celebration. Other Sacramento area locations include Roseville and Elk Grove.

Have you ever had a blackberry margarita? Now you can, at Zocalo. Bartenders blend 100 percent blue agave blanco tequila with blackberries, agave and lime for a tangy, ice-cold adult refreshment. Enjoy a well-rounded menu, generous portions and premium tequilas and regional wines while listening to contemporary Latin music. Enjoy live mariachi music every Friday night at 8. Zocalo brings the fiery, contemporary Mexican atmosphere to life. In fact, the whole decor from inside and out was inspired by the town squares in Mexico, and the friendly vibe exudes it. Visit Zocalo on Cinco de Mayo for an authentic, lively fiesta.

Don’t tell the friendly folks at de Vere’s Irish Pub that the Irish can’t celebrate Cinco. They will quickly remind you that May 5th is as good a day as any to have a packed bar, full restaurant and all-night drink specials. They’re still recovering from St. Patrick’s Day, but de Vere’s stands ready to pour your favorite Mexican import or tequila on Cinco de Mayo. The bar will serve up tacos and other Mexican bites on this decidedly un-Irish holiday. For an atypical Cinco de Mayo experience, venture out to de Vere’s Irish Pub.